String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

Elixir · OPTIWEB Nickel (coated) · 10-13-17-26-36-46-56

Elixir 19057 (10-13-17-26-36-46-56) in A standard (7-string) on a 25.5" scale

OPTIWEB Nickel (coated) 7-String Light (10-56) on an electric guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to A standard (7-string) (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2 A1), pulls 93.5 lb42.4 kg416 N in total and 13.4 lb6.06 kg59 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.4%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +18% from the set average.

Total tension
93.5 lb42.4 kg416 N
Average per string
13.4 lb6.06 kg59 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 10.4%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.01012.8 lb5.78 kg57 N2A3.01312.0 lb5.46 kg54 N3F3.01713.2 lb5.98 kg59 N4C3.02614.6 lb6.63 kg65 N5G2.03615.7 lb7.13 kg70 N6D2.04613.9 lb6.29 kg62 N7A1.05611.3 lb5.14 kg50 N
The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 10-46 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N). Loose and tight are measured against it.Line thickness follows the string gauge; textured lines are wound strings. Hover, tap or tab to a string for details.
#NoteHzGaugeItemType Tensionvs avg
1D4293.7 .010AR010plain 12.8 lb5.78 kg57 N−5%
2A3220.0 .013AR013plain 12.0 lb5.46 kg54 N−10%
3F3174.6 .017AR017plain 13.2 lb5.98 kg59 N−1%
4C3130.8 .026ENO026wound 14.6 lb6.63 kg65 N+9%
5G298.0 .036ENO036wound 15.7 lb7.13 kg70 N+18%
6D273.4 .046ENO046wound 13.9 lb6.29 kg62 N+4%
7A155.0 .056ENO056wound 11.3 lb5.14 kg50 N−15%
Total93.5 lb42.4 kg416 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in A standard (7-string), 25.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
19057 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-46-5613.4 lb6.06 kg59 N 93.5 lb42.4 kg416 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 12057 10-13-17-26-36-46-5613.4 lb6.06 kg59 N 93.5 lb42.4 kg416 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1059 10-13-17-26-36-46-5913.4 lb6.08 kg60 N 93.9 lb42.6 kg418 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110-7 10-13-17-26-36-46-5913.4 lb6.09 kg60 N 94.0 lb42.7 kg418 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5913.6 lb6.15 kg60 N 94.9 lb43.1 kg422 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 19074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5913.6 lb6.15 kg60 N 94.9 lb43.1 kg422 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in A standard (7-string), 25.5"

Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).

  1. D'Addario NYXL1164 11-14-18-28-38-49-64 deviation 11.2%, average 15.4 lb6.98 kg68 N, even
  2. Elixir 12106 11-14-18-28-38-49-59 deviation 13.4%, average 15.3 lb6.94 kg68 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19106
  3. Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-59 deviation 21.8%, average 13.6 lb6.15 kg60 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19074

More for the 19057

Other tunings on 25.5": B standard (7-string), Drop A (7-string)

A standard (7-string) on other scales: 26.5", 27", 28", 25.5"–27" multiscale

About these numbers

Tension is calculated, not measured: T = μ · (2 · L · f)², where μ is the string's mass per unit length (unit weight), L the vibrating length (scale) and f the pitch (A4 = 440 Hz, equal temperament). kg means kilogram-force: 1 kg ≈ 9.81 N ≈ 2.205 lb.

How a set feels also depends on the guitar's setup: action height, break angle over the nut and saddle, string length behind the nut and bridge, and your playing style. Plain strings feel stiffer than wound strings at the same tension. Use these figures to compare sets, not as an absolute measure of feel.

Sources